Sept. 10, 2011

Box Score

Match Video

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Outside hitter Kelsey Moore (R-Fr., Bellevue/Newport) tied for match-high honors with 11 kills as nationally ranked Western Washington University swept arch-rival Central Washington University, 25-23, 25-11, 25-23, in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference volleyball match Saturday at Sam Carver Gymnasium on the WWU campus.

The Vikings, who are the defending GNAC co-champions and ranked No.23 in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, improved to 4-2 overall. It was their 12th straight win at Carver Gym, dating back to the 2009 season.

Central fell to 6-3 overall and 1-1 in conference action. The Wildcats got 11 kills and 12 digs from Meg Ryan.

Outside hitter Marlayna Geary (Jr., Tacoma/Bellarmine Prep) and middle blocker Emily Jepsen (Sr., Kennewick/Kamiakin) each had nine kills for the Vikings. Geary also had 17 digs and Jepsen added seven blocks.

Libero Samantha Hutchinson (R-Fr., University Place/Curtis) had a match-high 24 digs and right-side hitter Emily Boerger (So., Marysville/Marysville-Pilchuck) had seven kills on .429 hitting and four blocks. Setter Laurie Yearout (Sr., Spokane/Lewis & Clark) contributed 31 assists, five digs, four blocks and three service aces.

Western took a 5-0 lead in the opening set and never trailed, scoring four straight points, two on Jepsen aces, after the Wildcats had rallied to tie at 14-all.

The Vikings scored 11 consecutive points, 10 on the serve of Hutchinson, in set two for a commanding 21-9 lead.

Western overcame a 22-16 deficit in the third set, scoring nine of the last 10 points. Yearout served five of those points, two of them aces. Geary, Moore and Boerger had consecutive kills as the Vikings took a 24-23 lead and the match ended on an attack error by Central.

Western next travels to Saint Martin's University on Wednesday, Sept. 14 (7 p.m.) for a conference match.